Psychology Chapter Selective Attention

Study Notes

Selective Attention

Defined as the focus on one stimulus or task while excluding others due to the limitations of attention.

Consequences of Selectivity

Attention may sometimes be directed towards the wrong stimuli.
Focusing on a single aspect can lead to future problems.
Involves early filter versus late filter mechanisms.

Early Filter

Filters attention based on physical features.
All stimuli, even those at the unattended ear, are processed for physical traits.
Only attended stimuli are processed for meaning.
Early filtering screens out information based on broad characteristics.

Late Filter

Filters attention after analyzing meaning.
Input is processed after the brain assesses its significance.

Dichotic Listening Experiment

A method used to explore early versus late filtering.
Participants wear headphones and hear different messages in each ear, focusing on one ear (attended) and ignoring the other (unattended).

Results from Dichotic Listening Experiment

Attendees often forget words from the unattended ear.
Participants do not notice backward speech or language changes in the unattended ear.
They can detect changes like pure tones or gaps, suggesting early filtering accesses physical aspects but not meaning.

Early Filter Suspicions

Attention can shift suddenly, exemplified by the cocktail party phenomenon where personal relevance captures attention even in noisy environments.

Broadbent's Early Selection Model

Describes incoming auditory information being filtered early:
- Sounds initially enter sensory memory.
- A filter identifies and allows through the target message based on physical characteristics.
- Meaning is processed only after filtering.
- Awareness occurs when the message enters short-term memory.

Cocktail Party Phenomenon

Illustrates involuntary attention shift when one's name is heard amidst noise.
Suggests selective attention can permeate early filtering.

Late Filter Evidence

Triesman’s experiment mixed two messages, showing participants often merged statements from both ears but remained unaware of the mix.
Corteen & Wood's GSR response experimentation indicated that words associated with personal relevance trigger physiological responses even when unattended.

Later Filter Theories

Propose that all stimuli are assessed for semantic content alongside physical features, challenging pure early filtering.

Early Filter Justification

Studies indicate participants may rapidly switch their attention rather than exclusively attending to one ear.
Attention can shift due to the relevance or threat posed by stimuli.

Bottom-Up Selection

Attention can be drawn by salient properties such as color, movement, or inherent meaning.
Stimuli that are physically notable can influence attention unconsciously.

Strategies to Avoid Distraction

Strategy 1: Avoid distracting stimuli to maintain focus.
Strategy 2: Habituate to minimize reactions to distractions.

Strategy 1 in Action

Individuals may gaze into the distance when asked a question to avoid distractions.
Social importance of faces makes it difficult to ignore them, highlighting the challenge in maintaining selective attention.

Description

This quiz explores the concept of selective attention, which involves focusing on one stimulus while ignoring others. It delves into the early and late filter mechanisms that dictate how we process information and the consequences of our attentional choices. Additionally, it covers the dichotic listening experiment, a key study in understanding attention processes.

Psychology Chapter Selective Attention

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Questions and Answers

What does selective attention refer to?

What is a consequence of selectivity?

What is an early filter?

What is a late filter?

What is the dichotic listening experiment?

In a dichotic listening experiment, people remember words from the unattended ear.

What is the cocktail party phenomenon?

According to Broadbent's early selection model, what is the first step in processing auditory information?

What does Triesman's experiment demonstrate?

What is the GSR response associated with in Corteen and Wood's study?

What do later filter theories propose?

What is bottom-up selection?

What strategy can help reduce distractions?

What happens when someone avoids distracting stimuli while answering questions?